Abdominal supporter.



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ELISABETH SCHULTE-UECI-ITING, OF BONN, GERMANY.

ABDOMINAL SUPPORTER.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ELISABETH SOHULTE- UECHTING, a subject of the Emperor of Germany, and residing at Bonn 7, Rh, in the Kingdom of Germany, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Abdominal Supporters, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to an abdominal supporter for use in correcting and alleviating disorders and diseases common to the organs of the abdominal region of the human body; and the main object of the invention is to provide a bandage or support which will avoid the use of straps or other unsanitary supporting elements extending over the shoulders or between the legs of the wearer.

The invention consists in forming a bandage of flexible, inelastic, material adapted to inclose the body from a point above the waist line to a point below the junction of the thighs with the trunk, said bandage being made in two parts joined together along a line coincident with the depressions between the abdominal and femoral regions, the connecting edges of the parts being formed to fit into said depressions, and the part below said depressions forming an unbroken extension along the lower front edge of the upper member. A bandage thus formed will be held against displacement or movement with respect to the body of the wearer by that portion thereof which lies or fits within said depressions, and no straps will therefore be required for holding it in place as is necessary where the lower edge of the bandage is coincident with the fold or hollow of the body on either side of the belly where the thigh joins the trunk.

For a detail description of my invention I will refer to the accompanying drawings in which- Figure 1, is a front View of a form or figure showing my improved bandage or supporter applied thereto. Fig. 2, is a side view thereof. Fig. 3 is a rear view thereof. Fig. 4;, is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing an additional abdominal support in the form of a band applied to the main bandage. Figs. 5 and 6 are side and rear views respectively of Fig. 4, and Fig. 7, is a front view showing a slightly modified form of my invention.

1 indicates a form or body to which the bandage is applied, and as shown, the latter Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed April 8, 1908.

Patented June 14, 1910.

Serial No. 425,858,.

incloses the body from a point 3 above the waist line 4 to a point slightly below the beginning of the downward convergence of the hips. The bandage is composed of a main body portion 2 and a lower front portion 11, the two portions being made of flexible, inelastic material, separately formed, and joined together by stitching or otherwise along a line conforming to the folds or hollows of the body along either side of the belly where the thighs join the trunk. The upper member 2 extends entirely around the body and is provided with lines of inelastic lacings 6 and 7 preferably located at the rear or back, and extending from the upper to the lower edge thereof. At the front said member 2 is cut out from a point 9 coincident with the meeting point of the oblique depressions between the abdominal and the femoral regions, upwardly along lines 10 coincident with said depressions, then downwardly at the sides to the lower edge of the bandage, thus forming coat-like extensions or members 12 and 18 at the rear. The lower member 11 of the bandage is made to fit the cut-out portion of the upper member, and is stitched or otherwise secured thereto along the line 910, each portion being so formed as to cause the bandage to fit into the depression or depressions of the body along said line.

Lines of lacings 6 and 7 are provided for adjusting the bandage to suit the condition of the wearer, and in order that the bandage may be readily removed and applied, an opening 8 is provided at the back between the lines of lacings 6 and 7 which may be secured or closed by hooks and eyes or other fastening devices, after the manner of an ordinary corset.

In cases where it is necessary to provide for a gradual, increasing abdominal girth, I provide lines of lacing 14, at the front of the bandage as illustrated in Fig. 7 and where it is necessary to provide additional supporting means for the abdomen, an inelastic band 16 may be provided as shown in Figs. 4 to 7 inclusively. This band 16 may be secured by means of lacings 17 and 18 to flaps 19 and 20 secured to the sides or at the rear of the bandage, and'said band may also be provided with a central line of lacing, as illustrated at 21 in Fig. 7 to enable it to be more readily and easily adjusted.

Having thus described my invention what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is An abdominal bandage made of flexible inelastic material adapted to inclose the body from a point above the waist line to a point below the junction of the thighs with the trunk, said bandage being made in two parts joined together along a line coincident with the depressions between the abdominal and femoral regions, the connecting edges of said parts being so formed as to fit into said depressions, the part below said depressions forming an unbroken extension along the lower front edge of the upper member, for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I afiiX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ELISABETH SOHULTE-UEGHTING.

Witnesses LoUIs VANDoRN, HELENE STELZER. 

